Published Resources Details Journal Article

The conflict between employees in the agricultural implement making industry and H.V. McKay, the largest employer in this industry, has assumed a central place in the history of Australian industrial relations. It was here in 1907 that H.B. Higgins handed down his famous needs based case for unskilled labour. However, the same award rejected the use of improvers and offered large pay increases to skilled and semi-skilled employees. Intent on introducing modern manufacturing methods, McKay was determined to resist wage rates comparable to those prevailing in general engineering. McKay locked out his workforce and at the end of the bitter 1911 strike McKay not only broke the union but was free to introduce piece work. By the end of the 1920s Sunshine was a modern factory with machine tools, work study practices and piece work. Yet in winning this battle, McKay had to make concessions. To keep the plant at full capacity he had to offer high wages and secure employment